Regular season and playoff predictions
Mark it down folks. The Patriots win again and everything in between. My NFL regular season and playoff predictions are in, and they're not always what you'd expect.
Well ladies and gents, it is indeed the most wonderful time of the year. It is football season, and finally weekends are meaningful once again.
So get everyone together, order that six-foot sub, and tell your girlfriend or boyfriend that you'll call them on Tuesday.
Lie to them if you have to, go to Circuit City to watch the game in hi-def, do whatever it takes -- but don't miss a week.
However, just in case you're not up to speed, I did the grunt work for you. I went through every game of every week, made the big picks and took it all the way to the Super Bowl.
So read on, call your bookie, but if I blow your kid's college money, don't come crying to me -- it's all for fun people.
NFL Regular Season Predictions
AFC East
The East is simple -- two winners and two losers. The Pats just keep getting better, adding Corey Dillion to an already explosive offense. With a tough D, look for them to blow teams out. No one will touch them at Foxboro in the playoffs, and they win it all again. Typically, teams do not repeat in the NFL, but the Pats are not a typical NFL team.
Team Record Playoffs
New England 13-3 Round 1 bye
NY Jets 10-6 --
Buffalo Bills 6-10 --
Miami Dolphins 4-12 --
AFC North
Baltimore is the standout team in the North, naturally led by the best D in the league, but the Bengals will be competitors if their passing game and QB controversy pans out.
Team Record Playoffs
Baltimore Ravens 10-6 Yes
Cincinnati Bengals 8-8 --
Pittsburgh Steelers 6-10 --
Cleveland Browns 4-12 --
AFC South
The AFC South is probably the best division in the NFL. The Colts and Titans will be airing it out all year to fight for the top, and the Jaguars will surprise some people. The Texans will be the best team with a dismal record this year -- a victim of their division.
Team Record Playoffs
Indianapolis Colts 11-5 Yes
Tennessee Titans 10-6 Wildcard
Jacksonville Jaguars 9-7 --
Houston Texans 4-12 --
AFC West
Much like the East, the AFC West is split right down the middle. The Chiefs have a tremendous offense -- so long as Priest Holmes stays healthy, and look for the Broncos to show-off their beefed-up defense and prove that they don't need Clinton Portis to win.
Team Record Playoffs
KC Chiefs 12-4 Round 1 bye
Denver Broncos 11-5 Wildcard
Oakland Raiders 5-11 --
San Diego 3-13 --
NFC East
The NFC East is essentially a bunch of middle of the road teams, with the possible exception of the Eagles. The addition of Terrell Owens looks great on paper, but it is never good to have your QB being your potential leading rusher. The Cowboys slip a little bit from last year's breakout season, but they don't miss Quincy Carter's interception ratio.
Team Record Playoffs
Philadelphia Eagles 11-5 Round 1 bye
Dallas Cowboys 9-7 --
Washington Redskins 8-8 --
NY Giants 5-11 --
NFC North
The North has two strong teams in the Vikings and Packers. Both teams should make the playoffs -- and if the Packers win home field advantage then the NFC is in trouble.
Team Record Playoffs
Minnesota Vikings 11-5 Yes
Green Bay 10-6 Wildcard
Detroit Lions 7-9 --
Chicago Bears 5-11 --
NFC South
The Panthers easily win their weak division where their biggest competitor are the overrated-even-when-their-not-so-highly-rated Falcons and an unstable Mike Vick with a offense that does not compliment his strengths.
Team Record Playoffs
Carolina Panthers 11-5 Yes
Atlanta Falcons 8-8 --
New Orleans 7-9 --
Tampa Bay 7-9 --
NFC West
The Seahawks will dominate the entire NFC if Matt Hasselbeck can keep his trap shut long enough to let Shaun Alexander and Darrell Jackson light up scoreboards. Despite Marc Bulger's shaky performances, Marshall Faulk's body, and the offensive line being in shambles, the Rams will piece themselves together and win the Wildcard in a pretty weak conference.
Team Record Playoffs
Seattle Seahawks 13-3 Round 1 bye
St. Louis Rams 11-5 Wildcard
San Francisco 4-12 --
Arizona Cardinals 2-14 --
Wild-Card Games
AFC: Titans over Colts, Ravens over Broncos NFC: Panthers over Packers, Vikings over Rams
Divisional Playoffs
AFC: Patriots over Ravens, Chiefs over Titans NFC: Seahawks over Vikings, Eagles over Panthers
Championship Games
AFC: Patriots over Chiefs NFC: Seahawks over Eagles
Super Bowl XXXIX: Patriots 31, Seahawks 20
So get everyone together, order that six-foot sub, and tell your girlfriend or boyfriend that you'll call them on Tuesday.
Lie to them if you have to, go to Circuit City to watch the game in hi-def, do whatever it takes -- but don't miss a week.
However, just in case you're not up to speed, I did the grunt work for you. I went through every game of every week, made the big picks and took it all the way to the Super Bowl.
So read on, call your bookie, but if I blow your kid's college money, don't come crying to me -- it's all for fun people.
NFL Regular Season Predictions
AFC East
The East is simple -- two winners and two losers. The Pats just keep getting better, adding Corey Dillion to an already explosive offense. With a tough D, look for them to blow teams out. No one will touch them at Foxboro in the playoffs, and they win it all again. Typically, teams do not repeat in the NFL, but the Pats are not a typical NFL team.
Team Record Playoffs
New England 13-3 Round 1 bye
NY Jets 10-6 --
Buffalo Bills 6-10 --
Miami Dolphins 4-12 --
AFC North
Baltimore is the standout team in the North, naturally led by the best D in the league, but the Bengals will be competitors if their passing game and QB controversy pans out.
Team Record Playoffs
Baltimore Ravens 10-6 Yes
Cincinnati Bengals 8-8 --
Pittsburgh Steelers 6-10 --
Cleveland Browns 4-12 --
AFC South
The AFC South is probably the best division in the NFL. The Colts and Titans will be airing it out all year to fight for the top, and the Jaguars will surprise some people. The Texans will be the best team with a dismal record this year -- a victim of their division.
Team Record Playoffs
Indianapolis Colts 11-5 Yes
Tennessee Titans 10-6 Wildcard
Jacksonville Jaguars 9-7 --
Houston Texans 4-12 --
AFC West
Much like the East, the AFC West is split right down the middle. The Chiefs have a tremendous offense -- so long as Priest Holmes stays healthy, and look for the Broncos to show-off their beefed-up defense and prove that they don't need Clinton Portis to win.
Team Record Playoffs
KC Chiefs 12-4 Round 1 bye
Denver Broncos 11-5 Wildcard
Oakland Raiders 5-11 --
San Diego 3-13 --
NFC East
The NFC East is essentially a bunch of middle of the road teams, with the possible exception of the Eagles. The addition of Terrell Owens looks great on paper, but it is never good to have your QB being your potential leading rusher. The Cowboys slip a little bit from last year's breakout season, but they don't miss Quincy Carter's interception ratio.
Team Record Playoffs
Philadelphia Eagles 11-5 Round 1 bye
Dallas Cowboys 9-7 --
Washington Redskins 8-8 --
NY Giants 5-11 --
NFC North
The North has two strong teams in the Vikings and Packers. Both teams should make the playoffs -- and if the Packers win home field advantage then the NFC is in trouble.
Team Record Playoffs
Minnesota Vikings 11-5 Yes
Green Bay 10-6 Wildcard
Detroit Lions 7-9 --
Chicago Bears 5-11 --
NFC South
The Panthers easily win their weak division where their biggest competitor are the overrated-even-when-their-not-so-highly-rated Falcons and an unstable Mike Vick with a offense that does not compliment his strengths.
Team Record Playoffs
Carolina Panthers 11-5 Yes
Atlanta Falcons 8-8 --
New Orleans 7-9 --
Tampa Bay 7-9 --
NFC West
The Seahawks will dominate the entire NFC if Matt Hasselbeck can keep his trap shut long enough to let Shaun Alexander and Darrell Jackson light up scoreboards. Despite Marc Bulger's shaky performances, Marshall Faulk's body, and the offensive line being in shambles, the Rams will piece themselves together and win the Wildcard in a pretty weak conference.
Team Record Playoffs
Seattle Seahawks 13-3 Round 1 bye
St. Louis Rams 11-5 Wildcard
San Francisco 4-12 --
Arizona Cardinals 2-14 --
Wild-Card Games
AFC: Titans over Colts, Ravens over Broncos NFC: Panthers over Packers, Vikings over Rams
Divisional Playoffs
AFC: Patriots over Ravens, Chiefs over Titans NFC: Seahawks over Vikings, Eagles over Panthers
Championship Games
AFC: Patriots over Chiefs NFC: Seahawks over Eagles
Super Bowl XXXIX: Patriots 31, Seahawks 20
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